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Guardians fans won’t be seeing Emmanuel Clase nor Luis Ortiz anytime soon.
The two pitchers will remain on non-disciplinary paid leave “until further notice” as a gambling investigation remains ongoing, MLB announced on Sunday.
In the statement it says that the league and the players association have agreed to extend the absences of Clase and Ortiz while adding “We will not comment further until the investigation has been completed.”
Starting pitcher Ortiz was placed on leave on July 3 after two individual pitches he threw in June were reportedly flagged by a betting-integrity company based on unusual betting action on them.
The bet was on the first pitch thrown by Ortiz to be a ball or hitting a batter to start the second inning of a game against the Mariners on June 15.
The other was during the third inning of a game versus the Cardinals on June 27.
In both games, Ortiz threw a first-pitch slider that was outside the strike zone.
Clase, a Guardians closer, then got the same treatment on July 28.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission, which oversees the state’s sports betting market, is investigating the situation of both pitchers both independently and with MLB.
Ortiz and Clase are just the latest to be involved in a betting scandal in the big leagues.
Last year, Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned for life after betting on Pirates games while he was on the team.
Additionally, A’s pitcher Michael Kelly, Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Saalfrank, Padres pitcher Jay Groome and Phillies infielder Jose Rodriguez were all given one-year suspensions for betting on other teams.
The absences of Ortiz and Clase have been a big hit for the Guardians.
Ortiz, who arrived in Cleveland in December, had a 4.36 ERA with 96 strikeouts against 42 walks over 16 starts.
Clase is also a top closer in the league with a 3.23 ERA and 24 saves this season.
Entering Sunday, the Guardians are three games back in the American League wild card race.
